U.S. GOVERNMENT: WELCOME HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS!

HOW TO USE THIS SITE: View due dates on the assignment calendar (below). Then, download needed PowerPoint notes, assigned readings, projects and homework documents by scrolling this page down to the appropriate Social Studies unit! You can submit your completed work, either by hard copy or by email!

TECHNICAL NOTE: You will need to unzip each unit file. Documents are in PDF form or Word 2003 and 2007. You can download Adobe for free here. If you do not have Word, you can download a free 60-day trial version at Microsoft's website here. Or, if your already have Microsoft Office 2003, but not 2007, you can download the compatibility pack to view 2007 and 2010 documents. If you want to use a free word processing program which opens Word and PowerPoint files, download Open Office here. If you want to write on top of a pdf file, download a free pdf editorhere.

PARENTS AND STUDENTS: EMAIL MR. CEGIELSKI HERE!NOTE: Your comments, requests and questions will be emailed to me once you hit "submit." I should respond within 24-48 hours. If you do not receive a response, please contact me by the email listed above or by phone. Please be aware that you will need to use "The Assignment Submission Form" (below) or your own email accounts when sending me homework attachments. Thanks, Mr. Cegielski

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9TH GRADE ASSIGNMENT SUBMISSION FORM:Students: Use this form to quickly submit assignments to my email address by uploading your file.

U.S. GOVERNMENT/CIVICS CURRICULUM (1 SEMESTER)

NOTE:DUE TO THE 2012 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS, THE CURRICULAR SEQUENCE HAS BEEN CHANGED TO FACILITATE LEARNING OF THE ELECTION PROCESS PRIOR TO NOVEMBER 6TH (ELECTION DAY!). UNITS HIGHLIGHTED IN YELLOW WILL BE TAUGHT THIS YEAR.

MID-SEPTEMBER THROUGH MID-OCTOBER: UNIT IV: FEDERALISM--THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT AND THE STATES UNIT V: FOUNDATIONS OF CITIZENSHIP (SKIP)UNIT VI: POLITICAL CULTURE AND IDEOLOGYMID-OCTOBER THROUGH MID-NOVEMBER:UNIT VII: POLITICAL PARTIES, VOTING AND THE 2012 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION UNIT VIII: THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH UNIT IX: THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

MID-NOVEMBER THROUGH MID-DECEMBER: UNIT X: THE JUDICIAL BRANCH UNIT XI: THE BILL OF RIGHTS AND THE SUPREME COURT

UNIT I: INTRODUCTION TO GOVERNMENTESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:1) What is a constitutional democratic republic?2) What are the purposes and functions of different political structures?3) How do different political structures shape domestic and foreign affairs?

Subunit: Creating the Constitution, Part IIESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:1) Why did the Founding Fathers fear a "direct democracy?" 2) How was the Constitution created through conflict and compromise?

UNIT III: THE CONSTITUTION--A LIVING DOCUMENT ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:1) What are the powers and responsibilities of each branch of government?2) How does the system of checks and balances serve to limit the powers of each branch?3) What is judicial review and how was it established? Is this one of the most important and essential checks on governmental power? Why or why not?

UNIT IV: FEDERALISM--THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT AND THE STATES ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:1) Why is it important to maintain a balance of power between the Federal government and the states?2) Which powers are separate? which are shared?3) what types of controversies arise over Federalism?

UNIT V: FOUNDATIONS OF CITIZENSHIP ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:1) Define citizenship and how one qualifies as an American citizen.2) What are the many rights guaranteed to American citizens?3) What duties and obligations do citizens share?4) What are the responsibilities of citizenship?

UNIT VI: POLITICAL CULTURE & IDEOLOGY ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:1) How has the American political process been shaped by different political ideologies, from Left through Right-wing thought?2) Is America too deeply divided by partisan politics and opposing political ideologies?

UNIT VII: POLITICAL PARTIES, VOTING AND ELECTIONS(Note: This section is divided into subunits below):

Subunit: Political PartiesESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:1) What are the origins of political parties? Did the Founders intend for them to exist?2) What are the functions of political parties?3) Are political parties necessary?4) What are the political platforms of the Democratic and Republican parties? 5) Why aren't third parties typically successful?6) How does one gain a political orientation?

Subunit: Public Opinion & Political SocializationESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:1) Why is public opinion important in the political process?2) What social factors influence our own political socialization the most?3) How can we judge whether a poll is accurate and trustworthy?

Subunit: Elections & CampaignsESSENTIAL QUESTIONS1) What voting rights are guaranteed by the Constitution?2) How do the voting and election process reflect the Founder's belief in a Democratic Republic?3) What is the process by which a President gets elected? Is the Electoral College fair?4) How does the mass media play a role in the election process?

Subunit: Interest Groups ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:1) What are interest groups?2) What techniques do interest groups use? To what degree do interest groups influence lawmaker's decisions?3) What have interest groups and lobbyists been criticized for?4) Are they necessary in a democratic republic in order to promote the rights and interests of citizens?

UNIT VIII: THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT--THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:1) What are the President's many roles and powers?2) Has the President become too powerful in recent years?3) What is the appointment power? What positions does the President appoint?4) How do independent agencies, commissions and corporations work for the President?

UNIT IX: THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT--THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:1) Why does the legislative branch have two houses?2) What is the qualifications for membership for each house? 3) What are the many powers and responsibilities of each house? For example, how does a bill become a law?

UNIT X: THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT--THE JUDICIARY BRANCH ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:1) While the Founders intended the judiciary to be the weakest branch, is this still true today?2) What are the different types of federal courts and what determines their jurisdiction? How does a case reach the Supreme Court?3) What are the qualifications for becoming a Supreme Court justice. How does the confirmation process work?4) What are the powers and responsibilities of the Supreme Court?5) What landmark cases in history have impacted the law?

UNIT XI: THE BILL OF RIGHTS AND THE SUPREME COURTESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:1) What essential freedoms does the Bill of Rights guarantee?2) How has judicial interpretation contributed to the development of civil liberties and civil rights?3) How have American civil liberties and freedoms been limited or challenged in our nation's history?